Vitex agnus-castus plant named &#39;V07-SC-OP-4&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Vitex agnus - castus  plant named ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ has short, dense panicles and dark pink flowers.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Vitex agnus-castus.

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

The new Vitex agnus-castus claimed is of the cultivar denominated‘V07-SC-OP-4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Vitexagnus-castus hereinafter referred to by the varietal domination‘V07-SC-OP-4’.

Pedigree and history: Under the direction of David Knauft, seeds fromVitex agnus-castus ‘Shoal Creek’ (unpatented) were irradiated with 4 krgamma radiation in 2006. These seeds were planted in Watkinsville, Ga.in 2007; a selection was made and labeled ‘SC4-01-07’ (unpatented). Thisselection was allowed to open-pollinate, and the resulting seeds weresown in 2008. Twelve seedlings germinated, and were transferred to CarolRobacker's breeding program in Griffin, Ga. in 2009. These 12 plantswere transplanted into a field plot in Griffin, Ga. in June 2009. One ofthese plants was selected for its dark pink flowers and was labeled‘V07-SC-OP-4’. This plant has been evaluated for four winters and fivesummers. Asexually propagated progeny, grown from stem cuttings, plantedin 2009 in Griffin, Ga. have also been observed. Height and width datahas been collected annually. Cold damage was assessed each spring.

Mean panicle lengths and number of panicles per compound panicle werecounted each summer. First bloom and re-bloom dates were noted eachyear. Data was collected on leaf yellowing, leaf drop, thinning, andleaf spot in July, August and September of each year.

‘V07-SC-OP-4’ plants have been grown for evaluation in an irrigatedfield plot in Griffin, Ga. These plants have been fertilized annually inthe spring. Height after five summer's growth is 335 cm. Stems areR.H.S. (Royal Horticultural Society, 2001) grey-brown N199A orgreyed-green 197A when older, round, and covered in tiny curved hairswith scattered longer curved hairs. The trunk color is a mix ofgreyed-white 156A and grey-brown 199D. Cracking and exfoliation of thetrunk or large stems is noticeable at about 5 cm diameter.

Leaves emerge with yellow-green 146A upper surface, changing to a deepergreen 137A during the summer, and becoming yellow-green 147A in thefall. Lower leaf surface is greyed-green 191 B throughout the season.Leaves are palmately-compound, typically 13 cm ×14 cm, with mostly sevenleaflets. Margins are entire, with acute apices and bases. The upperleaf surface has many scattered hairs, slightly glandular, while thelower surface is more densely pubescent and very glandular. Leaves areslightly waxy above, dull underneath. Venation is simple. Leafarrangement on stems is opposite.

Flower buds are red-purple 65C. Flowers occur in an elongated compoundpanicle, 14 cm long by 3 cm in diameter. At emergence and through fullbloom and fading, flowers are red-purple 63C with a darker red-purpleN66C splotch on the anterior lip. The peduncle is grayed-green 193D. Thenumber of individual flowers per inflorescence ranges from 242 on thesecondary peduncles to 588 on the main stem of the panicle. Sepals aregrayed-green 193A with purple-violet N81C streaking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘V07-SC-OP-4’ plants have been evaluated for four winters and fivesummers at the Griffin, Ga. site. Height and width data has beencollected annually. Cold damage was assessed each spring. Mean paniclelengths and number of panicles per compound panicle were counted eachsummer. First bloom and re-bloom dates were noted each year. Data wascollected on leaf yellowing, leaf drop, thinning, and leaf spot in July,August and September of each year.

‘V07-SC-OP-4’ was planted into a field plot in Griffin, Ga. in June2009, while ‘Salinas Pink’ (unpatented) was planted into the same plotin June 2011. At time of field planting, plants were rooted liners grownin one-gallon containers.

The following characteristics have been consistently observed in theoriginal plant of this new variety and in asexually propagated progenygrown from cuttings and, to the best knowledge of the inventors, theircombination forms the unique characteristics of ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ as a newand distinct cultivar. Asexual propagation by cuttings has proven thatthese characteristics are firmly fixed in succeeding asexuallypropagated generations:

-   -   1. Short, dense panicles (Table 5; FIGS. 1 and 2);    -   2. Dark pink flower (FIGS. 3 and 4).

‘V07-SC-OP-4’ is an improved pink Vitex as compared to the industrystandard ‘Salinas Pink’, the only commonly available pink Vitex.‘Salinas Pink’ is the closest variety known by the inventors to the newcultivator ‘V07-SC-OP-4’.

Comparison: Height and width were measured annually. ‘Salinas Pink’ issimilar in size to ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ (Table 1).

‘V07-SC-OP-4’ begins blooming about one week later than ‘Salinas Pink’each year (Table 2). Both have moderate repeat blooming during summerand fall (Table 3). Panicles on ‘Salinas Pink’ are much longer than‘V07-SC-OP-4’, but both have similar diameter. (Table 4, FIGS. 1, 2).However, the flowers are much closer together along the rachis of thepanicles of ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ compared to ‘Salinas Pink’, creating a paniclethat is fuller (has more flowers per linear length) (Table 5, FIGS. 1,2). Flowers of ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ are a darker red-purple (63C) than those of‘Salinas Pink’, which are a lighter purple (75C) (FIG. 2). In addition,‘V07-SC-OP-4’ has a notable darker red-purple (N66C) blotch on theanterior lip. The forms of both ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ and ‘Salinas Pink’ aresimilar (FIG. 3). A photo of ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ is shown in FIG. 4.

Vitex agnus-castus is a deciduous shrub or small tree used inlandscapes. This drought tolerant plant may be grown in cold hardinesszones 6 through 9. During cold winters in zone 6, it may die back to theground, but will likely re-grow from the roots and produce a floweringshrub during the following summer, as flower buds are formed on newgrowth. Late spring freezes in zone 7 may also cause cold damage anddieback, but the plants recover and bloom during the summer.

‘V07-SC-OP-4’ has been and is propagated vegetatively by stem cuttings.

TABLE 1 Height and width (cm) of ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ and ‘Salinas Pink’ one,two and three years after planting in a field plot in Griffin, Georgia.Entry Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ 175 H × 240 W 235 H × 288 W 330H × 362 W ‘Salinas Pink’ 118 H × 142 W 228 H × 291 W 297 H × 370 W

TABLE 2 First bloom dates of ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ and ‘Salinas Pink’ grown inGriffin, Georgia. Entry First bloom 2011 First bloom 2012 First bloom2013 ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ 5-30 5-21 6-17 ‘Salinas Pink’ — 5-14 6-10

TABLE 3 Repeat flowering in July, August, September, and October in2011, 2012, and 2013. Entry Year July August September October‘V07-SC-OP-4’ 2011  1* 1 3 0 2012 0 0 4 2.5 2013 3 0 3 1 ‘Salinas Pink’2011 0 1 3 2 2012 2 3 3 2 2013 1 0 0.5 0.5 *Repeat flowering was ratedusing the following scale: 0 = no flowering; 1 = 10% full bloom; 2 = 20to 30% full bloom; 3 = 40 to 50% full bloom; 4 = at least 60% fullbloom.

TABLE 4 Panicle length, diameter and number of secondary peduncles perpanicle averaged over 2011, 2012, and 2013. Measurements were made onfour typical or average-sized panicles per plant per year. Number ofMean Panicle Mean Panicle secondary Entry length (cm) diameter (cm)peduncles/panicle ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ 14 3.1 Two to four ‘Salinas Pink’ 24.13.2 Two to four

TABLE 5 Distance (mm) between pedicels on the rachis of the main panicleand secondary sub-panicles. Measurements were made on four typicalpanicles. Distance Distance between Distance between between pedicels onthe rachis the bottom two pedicels on of the secondary secondarypeduncles Entry the rachis* peduncles* of the panicle ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ 11.25.1 55.4 ‘Salinas Pink’ 23.0 13.5 60.1 *Measurements were made betweenthe second and third pedicels from the bottom of the sub-panicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying colored photographic illustrations show the overallappearance and distinct characteristics of the new cultivar of Vitexagnus-castus. The colors in the photographs are as close as possiblewith the photographic and printing technology utilized.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ (left image)during flowering and a photograph of ‘Salinas Pink’ (right image).‘V07-SC-OP-4’ has darker pink flowers than ‘Salinas Pink’. While‘Salinas Pink’ has longer panicles, the flowers on the panicles of‘V07-SC-OP-4’ are closer together and larger, creating a fuller, morefloriferous appearance.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ (left image), which has flowersthat are darker pink and closer together along the rachis than those of‘Salinas Pink’ (right image).

FIG. 3 is a photograph of ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ (top image) and ‘Salinas Pink’(bottom image) at peak bloom. In this photo, ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ had been in afield plot for five years and ‘Salinas Pink’ had been in the same plotfor three years.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ growing in plant trials in WestGrove, Pa.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the Vitex agnus-castuscultivar named ‘V07-SC-OP-4’. Data was collected in Griffin, Ga. fromthree year old plants grown from cuttings and growing outdoors.‘V07-SC-OP-4’ has not been tested under all possible conditions hence,phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmentalconditions without any variance in genotype.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published byThe Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.), London, England. Thisdescription is from observations of typical three year old plantsgrowing in Griffin, Ga.

-   Size: 335 cm tall by 395 cm wide, measured at highest and widest    point. Size is reflective of habit, i.e., 2′ by 3′ is rounded to    broad-rounded.-   Habit: Open, spreading, upright.-   Texture: Medium coarse.-   Stems:    -   -   First year.—Color: Grey-Brown N199A Diameter: 4-5 mm            Pubescence: covered in tiny curved hairs with scattered            longer curved hairs Exfoliation: none Shape: Round Pith:            Type: Solid Diameter: 2 mm Color: White N155D Odor: strong,            spicy, acrid Internode Length: 7.0 cm.        -   Second year.—Color: Grey-Green 197A Diameter: 7 mm            Exfoliation: none.-   Vegetative buds:    -   -   Arrangement.—opposite.        -   Type.—valvate.        -   Size.—1 mm×1 mm.        -   Scale number.—2.        -   Scale color.—Greyed-Orange 177D.        -   Position/disposition.—45°.        -   Number at node.—2, one on each side.        -   Pubescence.—scattered short hairs.        -   Shape.—rounded dome.-   Leaf scar:    -   -   Shape.—cup shaped.        -   Vascular bundle traces.—3, horizontal and oval.        -   Pubescence.—dense minute airs around perimeter.        -   Position of bud.—just above leaf scar.        -   Color differentiation.—Yellow-Green 144A.        -   Size.—2×3 mm.-   Trunk or large stems:    -   -   Color(s).—Mix of Greyed-White 156A and Greyed-Brown 199D.        -   Size stem exfoliation begins on.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.5 to 5.0 cm.        -   Texture.—usually smooth younger stems, cracking bark by 5.0            cm.-   Leaf:    -   -   Color through seasons.—Emerging dates: mid-April Upper:            Yellow-Green 146A Lower: Greyed-Green 191 B Summer dates:            mid-July Upper: Green 137A Lower: Greyed-Green 191 B Fall            dates: September Upper: Yellow-Green 147A Lower:            Greyed-Green 191B.        -   Mature size.—13 cm×14 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—mostly entire.        -   Shape.—palmate, mostly 7 leaflets Lobes: None Sinuses: none.        -   Vein color.—Greyed-Green 194D.        -   Pubescence.—Upper surface has many scattered hairs, with            more along the midvein, slightly glandular. Lower leaf is            more densely hairy and has a very glandular surface.        -   Arrangement on stem.—Opposite.        -   Venation.—Simple.        -   Texture.—Thickness: 0.3 mm Degree of waxiness of surfaces:            slightly waxy on upper surface, completely dull on lower            surface.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—5.5 to 7.0 cm.        -   Shape.—round.        -   Color.—upper Yellow-Green 148C, lower Yellow-Green 145C.        -   Pubescence.—densely covered in minute curved hairs.        -   Diameter.—2 mm.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Size(l×w).—5 mm×3 mm.        -   Color.—Red-Purple 65C.        -   Shape.—teardrop.        -   Pubescence.—glandular surface, dense hairs laying flat.        -   Time of full maturity (first visible).—early summer.        -   Time range for showiness.—mid-June through September.-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence(s).—Type: elongated panicle, compound Size            (l×w): 14 cm×3 cm (largest sub-panicle in the panicle)            Color: at emergence (date): Red-Purple 63C with Red-Purple            N66C on anterior lip full bloom (date): Red-Purple 63C with            Red-Purple N66C on anterior lip fading (date): Red-Purple            63C with Red-Purple N66C on anterior lip Peduncle: Color:            Greyed-Green 193D Pubescence: short hairs, glandular Number            of individual flowers per inflorescence: 242-588.        -   Petal(s).—Size: 8 mm x 5 mm Shape: zygomorphic,            gamopetalous, bilabiate Apex: 5 lobes rounded and slightly            curled Base: funnel Margin: slightly curled Pubescence:            scattered hairs on edges, thickly tufted inside at base of            pistil Texture: inside glabrous, outside scattered glandular            Color at peak of bloom: upper surface: Red-Purple 63C with            Red-Purple N66 on anterior lip lower surface: Red-Purple 65C            Pedicels: color (R.H.S.): Greyed-Green 193A pubescence:            covered in short hairs length: 1-2 mm.        -   Sepal(s).—Size (l×w): 3.5 mm×2 mm Shape: united, slightly            lobed Apex: slightly lobed Base: united, short tubular            Margin: smooth Pubescence: glandular, tomentose — short            hairs Texture: hoary Color at peak of bloom: upper surface:            Greyed-Green 193A with Purple-Violet N81C lower surfaces:            Yellow-Green 144C with Violet-Blue 93C.        -   Male reproductive structures.—Number: 4 Anther: size (l×w):            1 mm×0.5 mm color: Violet 86B Filament: size (l×w): 5 mm×0.5            mm color: White N155A Pollen color: Green-White 157D            Pubescence: thick tufted at base.        -   Female reproductive structures.—Pistil: Shape: tubular,            bifid size (l×w): 5 mm×0.5 mm position (superior, inferior,            etc.): superior color (R.H.S.): Purple-Violet N80C            pubescence: thickly tufted hairs at base Stigma: Shape:            round, bifid color (R.H.S.): White 155C pubescence: none            Style: Length: 6 mm Shape: tubular, forked at stigma (bifid)            color (R.H.S.): Violet 84A pubescence: glabrous, tufted at            base Ovary: Shape: round Number: 1 Pubescence: scattered            short hairs, numerous glands present on surface.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—drupe-like.        -   Size (l×w).—4 mm×3 mm.        -   Color(s) during ripening.—early (date): Yellow-Green 154BC            mid (date): Greyed-Orange 175B late (date): Brown 200A.        -   Shape.—globular.        -   Number per infructescence.—1.        -   Pubescence.—few scattered hairs.        -   Number of carpels.—2.        -   Persistence (effective period).—mid to late summer through            fall into winter.-   Seed:    -   -   Shape.—globular.        -   Size.—3.5 mm×2.5 mm, oval.        -   Color.—Brown 200A when fully ripe.        -   Number per locule per ovary per fruit.—1.        -   Germination capacity.—        -   Pubescence.—scattered minute hairs.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of the Vitexagnus-castus plant named ‘V07-SC-OP-4’ substantially as illustrated anddescribed herein.